Kevin James Explains That Kevin James Meme—and Recreates It with Jimmy Fallon
The comedian gave us the backstory during his January 23 visit to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Kevin James explained that viral The King of Queens meme that's been sweeping social media during his visit to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 22—and it does have an origin story.
"I have to talk to you about this. There's a very hugely popular Kevin James meme that took over the internet a few months ago. People love it," Fallon said as the crowd went wild, instantly recognizing what he's talking about.
"It spawned a million memes. Do you remember doing this photoshoot?" Fallon said, holding up the original picture of James wearing plaid and giving a sheepish grin.
"I remember," James said with an amused sigh. "When you first get a sitcom, you're just so happy to be there. And the photographer was just telling me to do goofy things. I got into this position, 'What the hell am I doing? Please bury that one.' and he goes 'Yeah, no worries. That won't come back.'"
"25 years later, the thing pops up," James added, shaking his head.
Fallon then presented several hilarious versions of the iconic meme that are circulating online, including one that was shared to a Jumbotron during a football game. James' face is everywhere you turn!
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Jimmy Fallon and Kevin James recreate the plaid shirt meme
Looks like Kevin James can't escape the fateful photo anywhere—even in his sleep. In a hilarious cold open sketch, Fallon greets James in his dressing room, only to find him wearing plaid and shrugging with a smirk on his face.
"Oh my gosh, you're doing the meme!" Fallon exclaimed.
"Yeah! I can't stop doing it! Jimmy, I'm stuck in the meme!" James responded in desperation.
"Well, snap out if it!" Fallon said.
"I tried!" James said.
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Then, in a hilarious twist, the meme suddenly spread to Fallon, like an infectious disease.
"Oh no, I'm stuck in the meme too! We gotta get out of this! Lets take the shirt off!" Fallon said as he found himself shrugging in plaid as well.
"It won't come off!" James said.
The two shuffled out of the dressing room, only to find the crew stuck in the meme pose themselves, and slowly approaching them like an army of zombies.
"Look! The meme! It's spreading!" Fallon gasped.
"Its everywhere you look, Jimmy!" James cried out in horror.
Luckily, the whole scenario was just a meme-dream on James' part. "It was all so real..." he said, breathing a sigh of relief after Fallon shook him awake.
Just when they thought they'd escaped, they were greeted to another crew member stuck in the now-famous pose.
